Mount Shasta Weekender

Area code is 530.

TO DO AND SEE
Cool Mountain Nights/Blackberry Festival Sept. 2–4. Classic Car Show, street fair with rock and roll, Tinman Triathlon, music festival, blackberry beer, and, of course, blackberry pies.Various locations. 926-6004, mtshastachamber.com [3]. Fish Hatchery View and help feed rainbow and brown trout in open ponds year-round. 1 N. Old Stage Rd., 926-2215. Hiking Pick up maps at the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station for many local trails. The Panther Meadows Trail provides spectacular views. 204 W. Alma St., 926-4511. Sisson Museum Native American basketry, mountaineering displays, and Water Talks, a series of educational events on a range of water-related topics. 1 N. Old Stage Rd., 926-5508.

SHOPPING
The Crystal Room Minerals in many forms including luminous singing bowls, as gorgeous to look at as they are hauntingly beautiful to hear. 109 W. Castle St., 918-9108, crystalsmtshasta.com [4]. Jon Thomas Fine Jewelry Custom-made necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry pieces, many featuring graceful images of the iconic mountain. 322 N. Mount Shasta Blvd., 926-6800, jonthomasfinejewelry.com [5]. Sereni-tea Try Lemurian lavender, a blend named after the mythical people said to inhabit the mountain. 319 N. Mount Shasta Blvd., 926-1688, sereni-tea.net [6]. Siskiyou Arts Council Gallery Creations by local painters, sculptors, and potters. 418-A N. Mount Shasta Blvd., 926-1294, siskiyouartscouncil.org [7]. Soul Connections A diverse collection of New Age items, from wall hangings and banners to religious icons and ethnic musical instruments. 329 N. Mount Shasta Blvd., 918-9533, soulconnectionstore.com [8].

EATS
Casa Ramos Favorites include molcajete, a savory stew with your choice of chicken, beef, or seafood. 1136 S. Mount Shasta Blvd., 926-0250, casaramos.net [9]. The Coffee Connection Homemade soups, pies, peanut butter brownies, and ice cream sundaes and floats. 408 N. Mount Shasta Blvd., 926-2622, thecoffeeconnection.org [10]. Lilys Hearty meat dishes including pork loin glazed with bourbon; a wide selection of vegetarian choices, such as ratatouille and polenta. 1013 S. Mount Shasta Blvd., 926-3372, lilysrestaurant.com [11]. The Oven Bakery Muffins, pastries, and whole-grain breads made by hand three times a week. Gourmet pizzas on Friday nights. 214 N. Mount Shasta Blvd., 926-0960, theoven-bakery.com [12]. Seven Suns Coffee and Café Try a homemade bear claw. 1011 S. Mount Shasta Blvd., 926-9701. Wayside Grill Half-pound burgers and brick-oven pizzas; live music on weekends. 2217 S. Mount Shasta Blvd., 918-9234, waysidegrill.com [13].

GET GOING
Request the Northern California & Nevada TourBook and Northern California map at AAA.com [14] or any AAA branch. To find a place to stay, visit AAA.com/hotels. For more information, contact the Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Bureau: 300 Pine St., 926-3696, mtshastachamber.com [3].

Photography by David Collier (5); copyright 2011 Roy Tennant, FreeLargePhotos.com [15] (Mount Shasta)

This article was first published in September 2011. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.